PhotoPass Introduces “Disney Attractions+” for On-Ride Photos

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

A lot has been changing in the world of Disney PhotoPass recently (including the new logo seen above), but the biggest change has to be the new offering of Disney Attractions+. Here is an official description of the new service directly from Disney:

 

One price… multiple thrills… take home all the memories!NEW! Disney Attractions+ now available at Walt Disney World® and Disneyland® Resorts.
With Attractions+ you can take home all your Attraction images, taken within a 14 day visit to the parks, for $44.95.
How does it work?

1. RIDE: Ride one of the participating Attractions2. ASSOCIATE: Present your Attractions+ card at the Attraction Imaging Sales Center within 24 hours of riding to associate your photo

3. CLAIM: Visit DisneyPhotoPass.com and enter the ID on the back of the card.

4. DOWNLOAD: Go to “My Downloads” to access your Attractions+ photo downloads.

Disneyland Participating Attractions: Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, California Screamin, Radiator Springs Racers, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

I personally don’t use PhotoPass often, but I think this is a really great deal for those who love on-ride photos. What do you think?

Test Track All-Stars Light-Up Crowds While Test Track is Dark

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

While Test Track at Epcot is closed for a lengthy refurbishment, Disney has lined up a new entertainment act called the Test Track All-Stars. The group consists of mostly performers you would also find over at the Voices of Liberty (which is probably why it is such a talented group) now dressed as Chevrolet employees who are on their lunch break and like to sing in an a cappella group. They perform car-themed tunes such as “At The Carwash”, “Ease on Down the Road”, “See the U.S.A. in Your Chevrolet”, and “Grease Lightning”. The show looks rather enjoyable and we have heard nothing but solid reviews from anyone we have talked to about it. Judge for yourself:

Spotlight On: The Custom Artist Project

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

We were happy to get a preview of the custom figures that will make up Series 1 of the Custom Artist Project at Mickey’s Circus. We also now know more specifics about how and when this series will launch. In the coming weeks we will try to spotlight the individual artists and talk with the project’s creator Rust this World on an upcoming podcast. For now, I’ll now turn it over to Rust this World to give you some of the details:

The Custom Artist Project is a group of 11 of the best custom Vinylmation artists in the world who have come together to make their own blind box series. Series 1 is called “Sidekickz” and is a mix of different Disney sidekicks from films or TV. We aim to replicate a real Vinylmation case, so the entire series is 24 figures. There are two of each figure with the exception of one chaser and one variant.

Celeste Villanueva
Sidekick: Booster Munchaper (Buzz Lightyear of Star Command)
Christopher Avalos (Evilos)
Sidekick: Lefou (Beauty and the Beast)

Josh Edwards (Crazy 4 Vinyls)
Sidekick: Iago (Aladdin)
Are Jay
Sidekick: Diablo (Sleeping Beauty)
Mark J Hoffmann
Sidekick: Grumpy (Snow White)
Brian Shapiro
Sidekick: Creeper (The Black Cauldron)
Heather Kattelman (Vinylmation Customations By Heather)
Sidekicks: Flotsam and Jetsam (The Little Mermaid

Dylan Pommer (Rust This World)
Sidekick: Eeyore (Winnie The Pooh)

Aaralyn Montgomery
Sidekick: Rajah (Aladdin)
Nanette Simard Belgen (NRB Relic)
Sidekick: Flower (Bambi)
Dylan Pommer (Rust This World)
Sidekick (Chaser): Smart Ass Weasel (Who Framed Roger Rabbit)

Jenny Grinsell
Sidekick: Little John (Robin Hood)
Date of Launch : October 6th
Website: http://www.facebook.com/groups/ArtistProject/
How to purchase: The price of one blind box is $65, including shipping within the US. We’re looking into international shipping right now, but it will probably be another $5-10 if it works out.Paypal is going to be the accepted payment. It is limited to one household per blind box.
What you get: You will get one blind box (yes, I’m actually making boxes) with one of 24 different figures. Some figures come with accessories. You will also get 11 different cards, 1 from each artist.

A Few New Details Emerge for “Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure”, Opening June at Epcot

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

We now know that “Phineas and Ferb: Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure” will open in June at Epcot, replacing the Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure. The following video doesn’t reveal much, but there are some interesting sound-bites as an Imagineer gives the show creators and voice of Phineas a tour of World Showcase:

The video does confirm that not much will be changing with the attraction as far as physical props, except where it is absolutely necessary (like Doofensmirtz replacing the Kim Possible villain inside the Glockenspiel in Germany). The video portions at the recruitment centers and on the communicator devices will be all new, obviously.

Stay tuned to WDWNT as more information on this upcoming attraction becomes available.

Dirk Wallen’s 4/21-22/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

We welcome WDWNT Reporter to the team with his very first photo report, a quick look around the parks with some very newsworthy photos:

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Work continues on the facade of the Main Street Bakery

The final eges of the rock-work on Under the sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid are rounded out

Work continues on what we assume will be a new Pooh meet and greet area in the former Tigger bounce area

The old/second Dumbo is taking a while to be installed

The rest of the land is taking shape, including more supports for the Seven Dwarves Mine Train

More of the Castle Wall frame has been erected

The basic shape is all there, so you can really get a feel for the layout of the land now

Over at Hollywood Studios, the queue at Disney Junior: Live on Stage is being repaired

The Splash fountain is back from refurbishment

Work continues on the new facade at the Downtown Disney Rainforest Cafe

I saved the Orange Bird for last… he’s back… and he has an attraction poster while not being an attraction

Yep, he’s on the sign…

Once Upon a Pin’s Mickey’s Circus Review

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

First, I want to thank any of our DV listeners/readers who have been checking out Once Upon a Pin, our Disney pin podcast and website we launched a few months back. Our numbers have been rising over the past few weeks with positive feedback about our approach.

You can help by spreading the word to your pin collecting friends in person, on Facebook and on the pin message boards. As you know, Mickey’s Circus was a great source of previews for pins and vinyl. DV had pictures of all the vinyl, but if you are also interested in the pin side, Once Upon a Pin had everything covered. We split the coverage up into three shorter podcasts:

Episode 11: Fantasyland, Epcot 30th and Mad T Party pin previews

Episode 12: Christmas and Nightmare Before Christmas pin previews

Episode 13: General pins that will be released at WDW and DLR. This includes pins of the month, event and general attraction and character pins as well as a look at next year’s POtM and AP pins.

You are also able to follow along and see all the pictures of the pins we are discussing. Just go to our Once Upon a Pin Facebook page and go to the photo albums section. Then, pick the corresponding album to the selection of pins we are discussing on the podcast you are listening to.

 

Disney Releases New Concept Art & Details for Test Track

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

The new logo for Test Track presented by Chevrolet

As you can see. they are changing the entire ride completely. The first image is clearly the hill climb. The top right looks to be the first break-test zone. The lower two pictures look like replacements for the environmental chambers.

Ride icons? I assume these are categories you will be graded in after designing your vehicle.

Yep, the Test Track you once knew is gone…

If you look closely at tis image, you can see plenty of concept art for the Chevrolet Design Studio, where guests will design their SimCars

Disney also released some new details:

When complete, the reimagining of this attraction will allow guests to design their own custom concept vehicle, and then put it through its paces on the exhilarating hills and switchbacks of the Test Track circuit. In the post-show, guests can make a TV commercial featuring their concept car or truck, race their car or truck on our virtual track and take a picture with their custom concept vehicle.

So, it looks like Test Track will be very different when it opens (tentatively set for December 1)… so what do you think of this new look?

A Hauntingly Fun Release

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

We have more details now about the Haunted Mansion releases at WDW and DLR. (Hanted Mansion explained page)

On Friday, September 21, the series will be released at D-Street Walt Disney World. Casey Jones will hold a signing that day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will also be a one-of-a-kind custom 9″ Mariner figure designed by Casey Jones available for purchase on site (pictured below).

Casey will then make an appearance from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 22, at D-Street Disneyland. The series will release that morning on the west coast and Casey Jones will also have a one-of-a-kind custom figure for purchase here too… the 9″ Bride pictured above. Additional custom figures will also be for sale:

John Henselmeier

Javier Soto

Julie West

Miss Mindy
According to a Disney Parks Blog interview with Steven Miller, series artist Casey Jones said: “We knew we couldn’t feature every single character from the attraction,” explained Casey. “So we selected a character from almost each of the different show scenes. This set gives us a strong foundation to build upon for a future Haunted Mansion series.”
The article reveals that the beautiful packaging for this series was designed by Thomas Scott with help from artist Dan Salgo. Thomas gave some insight into it’s creation, “We used the cover of the ‘The Story & Song from The Haunted Mansion’ vinyl album as inspiration for the packaging,” said Thomas. “We even used the unique ‘Haunted Mansion’ lettering found on that album as a nice tribute.”

We have waited along time for this series. What are your thoughts as we go into release weekend? Have the variants re-energized the passion for this set?